Boutique hotels in Bangkok for a bespoke break

Siam Design Hotel is right in the middle of the action. It’s less than a 10-minute stroll from Madame Tussauds (cue afternoons spent taking selfies next to Spiderman and Cristiano Ronaldo) and is also near the high-end stores of MBK Center, one of the most famous shopping malls in the city. The hotel’s amenities are as impressive as its location, too, what with an infinity pool and hot tub with panoramas over the city’s skyscrapers so you can unwind with a view.

Make room for mouthwatering meals at the three in-house eateries. A top pick for its atmosphere is The Roof Gastro, an open-air space where you’ll fill up on dishes like melt-in-the-mouth stone-grilled Aussie steak among quirky neon-lit installations.

Your guest room, awash with colour and oriental silks, will be waiting to welcome you after your meal—especially the cushy beds set up under cool indo-chic feature walls. Slip on your complimentary slippers and bathrobe and get a bird’s eye view of the hustle and bustle below through floor-to-ceiling windows.

As the brainchild of esteemed interior designer Eugene Yeh, the Cabochon Hotel is a gasp-inducing place to stay—so get ready to be wowed when you walk up. The owner was inspired by 1920s Shanghai and Indochinese colonies when crafting the hotel’s ivory column-lined exterior, using antique windows and French doors for that dash of authenticity.

You’ll see the colonial vibe extends to your room as well, with dark wood floors and plush buttoned headboards set against a bright white palette. Eat fresh fruit from the complimentary basket out on your balcony, or head over to the Joy Luck Salon de Thé to sip gourmet tea among old Louis Vuitton steamer trunks.

If a dip’s on your mind, climb the marble stairs to the rooftop swimming pool and soak up the buzz of the city from several storeys up. Hungry? Head indoors to sit under birdcages dangling from the ceiling at award-winning Thai Lao Yeh Restaurant, which serves classic dishes such as the local staple, coconut green curry, as well as lesser-known Laotian meals.

Bangkok is a city where spirituality sits side by side with decadence, and you’ll find both at the charming Arun Residence. It’s set in a refurbished Sino-Portuguese house on the majestic Chao Phraya River, with sparkling water views aplenty.

Choose a suite for vistas out to the majestic Temple of Dawn. These rooms are decorated in authentic Thai style with colourful cushions, intricately carved bedside tables and ethnic wall art. You can settle in with an in-room massage after visiting the 15-metre-high reclining Buddha at the royal-grade Wat Pho temple, a three-minute walk away. Drift into aromatherapy dreams as you recall the golden figures and glittering spires of the temples beyond your windowpane.

For those very same panoramas while you eat, pull up a chair at the outdoor Deck Restaurant and discover Thai dishes with a twist, like yellow curry with lamb or spicy white tiger prawn salad flavoured with lychee, mint and lemongrass. To see the sun melt into the horizon afterwards, The Amorosa Bar on the fourth floor’s your go-to spot.

Check in at Hotel Muse Bangkok Langsuan and you’ll soon be checking out a luxury room designed in a blend of Asian and European styles: think Thai-inspired art and baroque-style patterned wallpaper. And with a bowling alley, a driving range and a jogging track at your disposal, you could happily spend your entire break in the hotel.

Make your first stop the open-air pool, with its views of bustling Bangkok down below, or treat yourself to a pore-cleansing hour dipping in and out of the sauna. Then tempt your tastebuds to a chunky cut of meat in 1920s-inspired surroundings at Babette’s The Steakhouse.

Continue the flapper theme later on with a tipple at on-site The Speakeasy’s prohibition-esque rooftop patio. You’ll sit on the lawn with your choice of 40 gins—perhaps the fruity JJ Whitley Elderflower—while you look out across the city’s famous skyline. If you do decide to go out on the town, the 300 shops of the gigantic Siam Paragon Mall are just a 20-minute walk.

Found among leafy gardens, Ariyasomvilla Hotel brings Thailand’s jungles into the city. Go for a pampering session in the on-site spa, with its menu of Thai massages, a steam room, Jacuzzi and an outdoor pool. Another restful spot is the indoor library, where you can lose yourself in an absorbing title on warm afternoons when tropical rains fall.

If you’re keen to explore without straying far from the air conditioning, Central World Mall is less than a 30-minute walk. When the shopping spree is over, you can lie back on your spacious bed under lofty ceilings to admire the 1940s-inspired Thai décor or settle in next to soaring windows with views of the grounds.

Vegetarians and healthy types: this hotel should definitely be on your radar. Ariyasomvilla is home to Na Aroon, one of Bangkok’s most popular meat-free restaurants, where you can sample local dishes like crispy mi krop noodles and tom yum koong, a spicy lemongrass-infused curry.

If you’re in Bangkok for work or on a quick stopover, Triple Two Silom Boutique Hotel is a convenient place to rest your head. It’s just a 25-minute drive from Suvarnabhumi Airport and has a late check-out option, so you can linger for longer in your room the day you leave the city.

Get ready for the morning in an upscale, oversized shower or marble-top soaker bath, then pull on your luxuriously soft complimentary bathrobe and slippers to dry off on the full-size lounge sofa. Once you’re up and raring to go, head over for some casual Asian tapas—accompanied by a little people-watching through the on-site restaurant’s breezy open sides—at The Mint.

If you have work to finish up, there’s a business centre at the hotel with high-speed internet, computers and secretarial services at your fingertips. Or, if it’s all leisure from here on out, pop on over to the sister hotel next door, Narai, for a refreshing swim in the outdoor pool.

Chinatown is one of the Thai capital’s most underrated tourist spots, and Shanghai Mansion Bangkok is one of its top boutique hotels. As the name suggests, it’s influenced by 1930s Shanghai and has the décor to match, with Eastern-style poster beds and silk cushions in the rooms. The hotel’s history is just as colourful, having previously been a Chinese Opera House and home to the Thai Stock Exchange.

You’ll be treated to oodles of free experiences here. Start off by enjoying Dim Sum High Tea served with oolong on the house for an Asian spin on English traditions. Then, take yourself off to the spa to soothe your muscles with a Thai massage. For a bit more action, work off your meal on a tour of the Yaowarat area, full of streets laden with Chinese food stalls and shops selling fragrant herbs.

Back at the hotel, linger next to the atmospheric lucky fish pond in the atrium, lined with bright lanterns. Make sure to carve out space in your itinerary for live jazz at The Red Rose Restaurant, a sumptuous spot draped in velvet furnishings.

Step through banyan tree tendrils into Hotel Ad Lib and you’ll feel miles away from the city. This accommodation, blending materials like wood, marble and glass into modern designs, is located in a quiet alley off one of Bangkok’s oldest roads, Sukhumvit. It’s hard to believe that it’s less than a 10-minute walk from the nearest Skytrain station, so you can navigate the city above the traffic and sashay your way to Pratunam Market to pick up clothes for cheap.

Upgrade to a room decorated in grey tones with a minimalist, Scandi-style feel, and you’ll receive free transport tickets plus a smartphone to help you plan your itinerary—not to mention a complimentary minibar for sundowners when you return. If you’d rather be outdoors, sit in the hanging chairs beside the 20-metre lap pool with an icy cocktail from the bar.

Breakfast at this hotel isn’t limited to mornings: you can order yours fresh at any time of the day. For night-time meals, book a table outside next to the foliage-covered garden walls for Thai dishes like tender chicken with sticky rice.

Riva Surya‘s about a 10-minute walk from lively backpacker haven Khaosan Road, where the street food culture and party vibes are infectious. Visit in April during Songkran, Thailand’s week-long New Year celebration, for huge street parties and epic water fights.

After merry super-soaker battles and foam fights, you can retreat to your hotel for some calm away from the cultural festivities. With upscale amenities including two swimming pools—one of which has views over the busy river—it’s a welcome step up from the area’s famous hostels.

Sightseeing’s easy here: simply walk for less than 20 minutes and you’ll be at the capital’s golden-hued Grand Palace. Catch the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat to see temples lining the riverbanks for a relaxing way to experience Bangkok even with Khaosan nearby.

To really get that oasis feel, book a Deluxe Riva Room with modern Thai furniture and a tiled balcony with wicker seating. When you’re hungry, order international food made from organic ingredients, such as ribs in a sticky rum-infused sauce and decadently creamy truffle ravioli, at Babble and Rum restaurant. You’ll sit under bright orange umbrellas while water taxis and local barges float by on the river.

Steps from tourist hub Sukhumvit Soi 11—a five-minute walk away, to be exact—you’ll be within easy access of the area’s cool bars, restaurants and clubs at CitiChic Hotel By ICheck Inn. A free tuk-tuk shuttle to BTS Nana station means you’ll also have the rest of the city at your disposal.

In Bangkok to shop till you drop? Terminal 21, the popular airport-inspired mall with seven floors themed after different countries, is less than a 15-minute walk. Make sure to swing by Poem for tailored dresses and Labrador to browse stylish leather bags. Go on a culinary journey to Baan Khanitha, a nearby Michelin-recommended restaurant serving delicacies like nutty Pad Thai noodles with juicy tiger prawns.

Once you’ve perused the stores, CitiChic’s swimming pool, set on an open-air rooftop, is ideal for an invigorating dip as the day fades. There’s also a gym for workouts and a mini-mart for picking up snacks without needing to leave the premises. Take your nibbles back to your simply designed room and pour yourself a tea or coffee using the facilities while planning the next day’s itinerary.